If you were to add up the ‘cost’ of your inactive personal intentions, would it prompt you to act?

But first, what do I mean when I use the term ‘cost’?

Ultimately your ‘cost’ is what you could have if you took action. Whether that be time, money, happiness, or status, the Opportunity Cost of your inaction is what you are missing out on because you are unable to commit to action.

I’m sure you have plenty of good reasons not to commit to action – but if you truly understood the potential of your action perhaps you would ‘go out and get busy’.

And therein lies the problem – we look at potential through the lens of old perspectives.

So how do old perspectives lead to inaction?

Initially, you for a moment allow yourself to dream and ponder ‘what if’. But within an instant you apply your existing perspectives and beliefs about you and the world around you to discount the benefits of your potential to an overall ‘net loss’.

Usually these old perspectives are out-of-date. Not only are they based on assumptions that are no longer relevant, the information that they are based upon is second-hand or second-rate.

But interestingly, these old perspectives are never enough to totally erase your dreams and your continue see the same opportunities pass by like the house speciality on a Sunday’s Yum Cha trolley.

I see this to be particularly the case with peoples’ self-development.

Of course there is an investment of time, money and capacity to profit from self-development.

About the author

CRAIG STEPHENS

Craig Stephens is a coach and mentor who develops the purpose, presence and performance of professionals, teams and organisations. If you can learn more about Craig you can visit on twitter: @craigvalue